▼ Summary
– Apple’s September 9 event at the Steve Jobs Theater will introduce the iPhone 17 range, including the thinnest iPhone 17 Air, plus new Apple Watch and AirPods models.
– The event’s “Awe dropping” tagline and heat map-style logo hint at potential thermal improvements and new color options for the iPhone 17 Pro devices.
– Oura is building a smart ring manufacturing facility in Texas to support its Department of Defense contracts and research in areas like stress management and early illness detection.
– Oura recently won a patent case against Ultrahuman and Ringconn, forcing their removal from the US market, though Ultrahuman is countersuing.
– Plaud has launched the Note Pro, an AI note-taking device with improved microphones, a screen, and automatic meeting/call switching, offering transcription in 112 languages.
Apple has officially announced its September iPhone event, scheduled for the 9th at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. The showcase is expected to introduce the iPhone 17 lineup, including a new ultra-slim model tentatively named the iPhone 17 Air. Also anticipated are the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and AirPods Pro 3.
The invitation features the tagline “Awe dropping” alongside a blue and green Apple logo that shifts like a heat map. This visual effect hints at possible thermal enhancements in the new devices, or a speculated return to aluminum construction for the Pro models, which could improve heat dissipation. These colors may also preview new finishes for the iPhone 17 Pro.
WIRED will provide live coverage of the event. Apple typically releases the latest operating system updates shortly after the presentation, so users can soon explore new features across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
In other tech news, Oura, the leading smart ring manufacturer, has revealed plans to open a production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. This move supports its major client, the Department of Defense, which has deployed tens of thousands of Oura rings to service members. The devices are used in research focused on stress management, fitness optimization, fatigue risk, and early illness detection.
This expansion comes amid significant industry turbulence. Oura recently won a patent dispute against competitors Ultrahuman and Ringconn, forcing both to withdraw their products from the US market. The ruling is especially challenging for Ultrahuman, which has a Texas facility intended to avoid tariffs. Legal countersuits are underway, complicating the landscape. For now, Oura remains the primary smart ring option available to US consumers.
Plaud has also made headlines with the launch of its latest AI-powered note-taking device, the Plaud Note Pro. Priced at $179, this credit card-sized gadget records and transcribes conversations, generating summarized notes with actionable insights. The new model includes two additional microphones for improved audio capture and a 0.95-inch AMOLED screen that shows battery life, recording status, and mode.
A significant upgrade is its ability to automatically switch between call recording and in-person meetings without manual adjustment. Users can start recording with a long press, highlight key moments with a short press, and even type or take photos via the companion app to add context. The device supports 112 languages and uses AI models from OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to identify speakers and answer specific questions about recorded content.
The Plaud Note Pro is available for preorder and begins shipping in October. The base plan includes 300 transcription minutes per month, with an optional $100 annual upgrade for 1,200 minutes and early feature access. An unlimited transcription plan is also offered for $240 per year.
(Source: Wired)
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